In terms of ideal vacation destinations, North Korea capital Pyongyang certainly ranks among the very bottom. However, with such an impenetrable veil of mystery shrouding the so-called Hermit Kingdom, there are many who do seek to travel to the city in the hope of seeing what life is really like for those living in the notoriously secretive country, ruled with an iron fist by petulant dictator Kim Jong-Un.
Given that fears continue to surround the escalating conflict between North and South Korea, with gunshots having been fired into both territories by both countries’ armies, photographer Taylor Pemberton knowingly made the risky decision to travel to Pyongyang in order to pull back the curtain for himself. While North Korea actively and often forcefully discourages tourists who wish to document the true goings-on in the country, and with Internet access severely restricted in the region, Pemberton did manage to relay his photographs from his travels after touching back on home soil, offering a unique perspective on the country.
In an Instagram post discussing the reasoning behind his stay in North Korea, Pemberton wrote: “Many people have asked me how you gain access to a country that is so restricted. It’s pretty easy, even as an American. What you’ll need is simply time and money.”
The photographer continued: “My trip was 4 days, and we had two guides: one male, one female. It’s also important to note that you are NOT able to roam free at any given time. You follow a strict itinerary and you are on a tight schedule to see what North Korea allows. You stay in a hotel that is isolated on an island, and you are strictly informed when it is okay/not okay to take photos. However! with thousands of visitors each year, the fabric loosens, and that’s where things start to get interesting. You’re able to witness the the imperfections, the infinite nuances… the hiccups that reveal why some foreigners have become so obsessed and return year after year to live with what exists behind the curtain.”
Take a look through Pemberton’s journey through North Korea in photographs below, and be sure to check out more of his work on Instagram:
Image Credit: Instagram.com/Pemberton
Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #1
Pemberton wrote about how clothing almost serves as a uniform in N. Korea: "One of the things I noticed right away is that clothing choices appear standardized. Men generally wear slacks, dress shoes, and collared shirts. There are no consumer brands, no logos, no advertisements. There is most definitely nothing provocative or alluring worn or presented in public."
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #2
Pemberton says that he wants to "encourage a wider opportunity to view the complexity in this country."
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #3
Pemberton reveals how "one of the first things you do in North Korea is go pay respect to the great Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il."
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #4
"Hospitality is taken very seriously in North Korea," Pemberton states, revealing how the staff at his hotel were all welcoming, the food plentiful and the rooms immaculately tidy.
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #5
The Pyongyang times, which is available in English for travelers. Broccoli is seemingly a big deal in the capital.
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #6
North Korea's mass dance celebration takes place during Liberation Day, with the dance taking place in Kim Il-Sung square. "People seemed a bit more cheerful than normal and truly happy to share their excitement through both peers and foreigners," writes Pemberton.
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #7
Mass dance in full swing.
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #8
A photograph takn during mass dance. "Portraits of Marx and Lenin also used to hang in this square but have since been removed," Pemberton notes.
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #9
Pemberton discussed the attitudes of the North Korean populace, writing: "Typical scenes in North Korea happen just like everywhere else in the world. People tease each other, they trip up the stairs, they try to fix their hair in the reflection. I'm inspired by all this because it brings a sense of relation to a society that is alienated for obvious reasons."
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #10
Pemberton's liason at the demilitarized zone: "He was actually very friendly and laid back, despite having caught him in an evil staredown."
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #11
A smaller version of mass dance held during the daytime.
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #12
An alleyway just outside of Pyongyang.
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #13
A photo that North Korean officials wanted Pemberton to take, according to the photographer.
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #14
The Pyongyang metro, which Pemberton stated was a unique experience given that he was able to be in a contained space with the Pyongyang locals, which he brands "the ultra-privileged."
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Tourist Offers Unique Perspective on North Korea via Instagram #15
Pemberton stated that one of most major rules North Korea enforces is that tourists are not allowed to take photographs of the country's military. While Pemberton didn't realize he was doing so in this image due to him "moving on a fast bus" at the time, he notes that the results of doing so can be disastrous.
